Always a great feeling to be back in a final – Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal was delighted after making his first tour-level final match since 2022 Roland Garros. The Spaniard bested Croatian qualifier Duje Ajdukovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday afternoon to make it to the summit clash of Bastad Open.

The lefty veteran lost the opening set against the Croatian but bounced back in the next two to continue his march. Nadal had to battle for four hours against Mariano Navone in the quarterfinal and thus he had to pull out of his doubles semifinal clash with his partner Casper Ruud.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion admitted it was a tough match as Ajdukovic has a potent backhand.

“I think it was a tough match. My opponent had one of the best backhands that I played against,” said Nadal in his on-court interview. “He came here with a lot of confidence. I think I was trying to push him back. It was very, very difficult, honestly, but I found a way to survive and be through to that final after a long time without being in a final. So that’s great news and I’m very happy with that.”

This will be the 131st ATP final for Nadal and if he goes all the way on Sunday, he will clinch his 64th Clay title.

Nadal had to spend a lot of time on the sidelines due to his hip surgery however he is now delighted to be in the final.

“Always it is a great feeling to be back in a final,” said Nadal. “I have won four matches in a row, something I was not able to make happen since two years ago. A lot of things happened, but still in this process of recovering, a lot of things I lost, because I had a very important hip surgery almost one year ago.

“So things were not going that easy, but I am fighting. I am fighting during the whole tournament to be where I am today, and I think matches like yesterday’s, like today’s, help to improve a lot of things on court. I am happy with that, and let’s see if I am able to play a little bit better tomorrow.”

Nadal will face Nuno Borges in the final game.